Gas-generator.



I. MGDANIBL & J. K. SHONTZ.

GAS GENERATOR.

APPLoATIoN FILED MAR. a, 1907.

90%991 v Patented Nov. a, 1908.

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ff im@ atkvonu 1HE NoRRls PETERS ca., wsunyarmv, n. c.

I. MODANIEL da J. K. SHONTZ.

GAS GENERATOR,

APPLICATION FILED MAR. s, 1907.

Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

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THE Nomzl PETER: co., WASHINGTON, D4 cy UNITE@ SATESANT OFFIQFQ.

IRA MCDANIEL AND JOHN K. SIIONTZ, OF KANSAS, OHIO.

GAS-GENERATOR.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Ina MGDANIEL and Qloi-.IN K. SHoN'rZ, citizens of the United States, residing at Kansas, in the county of Seneca and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Gas-Generators, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to hydrocarbon gas generators; and it has for its objects to provide a device of this character which shall be simple in construction and efficient as well as economical in operation.

Further objects of the invention are to simplify and improve the construction and operation of this class of devices.

Vith these and other ends in view which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of the invention; it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the invention may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawings, Figure l is a vertical sectional view of a generator constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line 2 2 in Fig. I. Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the plane indiated by the line 3-3 in Fig. I. Fig. 4e is a horir/.ontal sectional detail view taken on the plane indicated by the line 4 4 in Fig. I.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like characters of reference.

The device includes a generating chamber which consists of a casing I of flat, approximately circular shape so as to present a larg@ heating area, and formed with laterally extending branches 2 and 3, the former of which constitutes an inlet for the liquid hydrocarbon that is to be vaporized and converted into gas, one of the said branches serving as supporting means for the casing and the other to establish connection with the source of supply. The branch 3, the outer end of which is provided with a closure such as a screw plug 4t serves for the introduction Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 8, 1907.

Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

Serial No. 361,338.

into the casing of a packing 5 consisting of clean dry sand or other suitable refractory material; the branch 3 also constitutes a supporting member whichV is externally threaded, and threadedly connected with a ball or bulb G mounted upon a standard 7. The inlet branch 2 of the casing I has threaded connection with a supply pipe 8 leading' to a tank or reservoir T from which the hydrocarbon is supplied to the generator. The supply may be kept under pressure by gravity or by means of an air pump in any suitable well known manner that will insure a steady How. In the supply tube 8 there is placed a wick 9 whereby the flow of the hydrocarbon is obstructed; this wick also serves to filter the liquid and to remove impurities therefrom. The necessary connections are preferably of such a nature as to render the wick readily accessible for the purpose of renewing` the same, when desired.

The casing l that constitutes the generating chamber is formed with an integral axially disposed stem or shank 10 which is bored to form a seat Il and casing l2 for the point and the stem of a needle valve 13 having a handle I4. The valve stem has a threaded portion that extends through a cap l5 which is screwed upon the lower end of the shank I() and which constitutes a packing gland. The valve seat Il communicates with the interior of the generating chamber through a small aperture 1G. The casing l which constitutes the generating chamber supports the mixing chamber I7 which is provided with an air inlet 18; a pipe I9 suitably connected with the top of the mixing chamber serves to convey the product to the burner or burners where it is to be consumed. The gas passes from the mixing chamber to the conducting pipe 19 through a regulating pipe 20 which is exteriorly threaded to engage an aperture in the top of the mixing chamber where said regulating pipe may be adjusted, said pipe being readily accessible through the air inlet 18; the regulating pipe is in approximate axial alinement with the needle valve; and the relative proportions of gas and air may be regulated by raising or lowering said pipe, it being obvious that by increasing the distance between the regulating pipe and the exit from the generating chamber, a larger proportion of atmospheric air will be admitted for admixture with the vapor.

Connected with one side of the conducting IIO pipe 19 is a depending pipe or passage 21 supporting at its lower end a burner casing 22 having an upward projecting pipe 28 which is disposed directly beneath the generating chamber, the shank 10 of which extends through the burner casing and the pipe; the top of the burner casing is provided with minute apertures 24 disposed between the shank 10 and the pipe 23. lVhen the device is in operation, a portion of the gas will pass from the conducting pipe 19 through the passage 21 to the burner casing 22, and thence through the apertures 24 and pipe 23, issuing from which it may be ignited for the purpose of maintaining a flame below the generator the contents of which will thus be vaporized.

A generating cup or pan 25 is provided, the same being equipped with an arm 26 pivotally engaging the stand or supporting member 7 upon which the said cup may be adjustably secured or supported by means of a collar 27 having an adjusting screw 28; the pan 25 has an arcuate notch or recess 29 for engagement with the burner pipe 23, thus enabling the generating cup to be swung or moved to a position where alcohol or other fuel may be conveniently placed therein after which said cup may be restored to the position directly below the generating chamber shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

The operation and advantages of the invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed. The liquid hydrocarbon, such as gasolene, passes from the tank or reservoir to the generating chamber, the outlet from which is capable of being tightly closed by the needle valve.

To start the device, liquid fuel such as alcohol is placed in the cup 25 and ignited, the cup being first positioned directly beneath the casing which constitutes the generating chamber. By the refractory packing within said chamber, the gasolene or other hydrocarbon liquid will be diffused, and will be very quickly vaporized when, by manipulating the needle valve, the vapor will be permitted to escape into the mixing chamber; the upward rush of the vapor having a tendency to create suction through the air inlet which, as will be seen, is of ample dimensions. rEhe How of vapor may obviously be regulated by the needle valve, and the proportion of atmospheric air admitted to the mixing chamber' may be governed, as previously described, by the regulating pipe 20. A portion of the gas composed of mingled hydrocarbon vapor and atmospheric air which passes through the regulating pipe into the conducting pipe 19 will escape into the passage 21 and through the latter to the burning casing 22 and apertures 24. to the pipe 23, issuing from which it becomes ignited by the flame of the fuel in the generating cup 25; a flame will thus be steadily maintained below the generating chamber which will thus be kept in a heated condition as long as the device is in operation.

This improved generator is of extremely simple construction, and it has no parts that are liable to become clogged or obstructed. The casing which constitutes the generating chamber is preferably made integral with the shank that constitutes the seat and the casing of the needle valve whereby the flow of vapor from the generating chamber to the mixing chamber is regulated. The operation of the generator is entirely governed and controlled by the single needle valve. The refractory packing in the generating chamber insures proper diffusion of the liquid hydrocarbon, and the rapid conversion of the same into vapor. The packing may be readily renewed, when desired, by removing the plug or closure 3, and said packing also constitutes a filtering medium that prevents obstructions of any kind from getting to the seat of the needle valve. The generator may be made of any desired dimensions and may be made to supply a single burner or any desired number; in the latter case the conducting pipe 19 will be tapped by one or more branches.

Having thus fully described the invention, what we claim as new is 1. A device of the class described, including a support, a generator secured thereto, a valve casing integral with and depending from the generator, a valve mounted in the casing, a mixing chamber mounted upon and supported by the generator, a conducting pipe secured to and supported by the mixing chamber, a pipe connection leading from the conducting pipe and depending below the generator, and a heating burner secured to and supported by said pipe connection.

2. A gas generator including a support, a generating chamber connected therewith and projecting laterally therefrom, a valve casing depending from the generating chamber, a burner casing arranged below the generat ing chamber and having a pipe portion extending toward the generating chamber, and a starting cup movably mounted on the support and adapted to .be swung to embrace the pipe portion of the-burner casing, where- `-by' to dispose said starting burner beneath the generating chamber.

1n testimony whereof, we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

- IRA MCDANIEL.

JOHN K. SHONTZ. f W'itnesses 7. R. Bn'rrs, J. P. FREESE. 

